Photographic film hanger



April 19, 1932. GOLLOMB 1,854,931

PHOTOGRAPHI C FILM HANGER Filed Jan. 15, 1930 Patented Apr. 19, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMAN GOLLOMB, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; JACOBGUTMAN EXECUTOR- OF SAID GGLLO'MB, DECEASED PHOTOGRAPHEC Applicationfiled January 15, 1930.

This invention relates to photographic film hangers, and has for itsobject to provide a hanger of simple and elficient construction andoperation whereby a film can b mounts in or removed from the hanger withcelerity, which film when thus mounted is uniformly maintained underresilient longitudinal tension.

The invention, generally stated, embodies, in a hanger frame, a novelconstruction of paired film holding clamps arranged at the top andbottom respectively of the frame, and means for relatively actuating theclamps to accomplish the efiicient clamping and tensioning of the film,or the subsequent release of the film, the operation in each case beingeffected with facility and dispatch, as will be hereinafter described;the scope of the invention then being defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a photographic filmhanger embodying a preferred form of my invention, a film beingindicated in dot-ted lines as positioned therein and clamped at itslower edge preparatory to the clamping and tensioning of the upper edgeof the film.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hanger with the parts in the relativepositions shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial section of the upper portion of the hanger, adjacentone of the upper clamps, as on the line of Fig. 1, indicating by dottedlines the relative positions of the clamp and its associated cam whenthe film is clamped and under tension.

Fig. 4: is a sectional detail of one of the clamps.

The hanger illustrated embodies an open rectangular frame comprisingside bars 5 and top and bottom cross-bars 6, 7, respectively. Spacedbelow and parallel with the top bar 6 is a transverse rock-shaft 8,between which and the bottom cross-bar 7 a film (F), to be developed andprinted, is supported at its respective upper and lower corners by meansof upper and lower pairs of clamps A, B, respectively. The clamps aresubstantially similar in construction and operation saving ashereinafter particularly pointed FILM HANGER F erial No. 420,856.

out. Each of the clamps, in the preferred construction, comprises abasal plate 9 extending longitudinally of the adjacent side bar of theframe and having at its inner end a projecting aw portion 10, and alsohaving at its outer edge tubular projections 11 through which the sidebar extends. In the case of the lower clamps the projections are fixedlysecured to the respective side bars, and in the case of the upper clampsthe projections are slidable within limits on the side bars. The inneredges of the plates 9 of each pair of clamps are formed withforwardly-projecting flanges 12 the inner ends of which are spaced fromthe adjacent ends of the respective plates to permit the seating of theedge of the film on the jaws 10. These flanges afford bearings for atransverse rock-shaft 18, the ends of which have formed thereon, orotherwise fixed thereto, angular arms 14 constituting jaw members whichare so disposed that they can be moved into and out of clamping relationto the respective basal jaws 10 by proper actuation of the associatedshaft Each shaft 13 is provided intermediate its ends with a suitablethumb-piece 15 to facilitate its manipulation. The acting ends of thearms l l are flattened and provided with points 16 adapted to penetrateand hold the adjacent edge of the film, at its corners, when such edgeis applied to the lower jaws 10 and the associated movable jaws 14 areclamped thereon.

The jaws 10 are formed with apertures 17 to receive the points, whichpoints are preferably formed by the pointed ends of small screws 18which are fitted in tapped holes in such jaws, thus permitting removal,re-sharpening and replacement of the points, as well as their niceadjustment in respect to the film, as occasion may require.

The flanges 12, which are laterally resilient, bear against the innersides of the arms 14, thus serving to maintain the arms in theirrespective active and inactive positions with respect to the basal jaws.The flanges are preferably provided with suitably-disposed punchedprojections 120 which normally project slightly into the paths of therespective arms 14: so as to engage the opposing sides of the arms andtemporarily lock them in down or clamping position. hen the arms areforcibly swung upward by actuation of the thumb-pieces the arms bearagainst the projections 120 and press them outward in opposition to theinherent elasticity of the respective flanges so as to release the arms.

The upper pair of clamps (A), and the actuating rock-shaft 13 therefor,are yieldingly held in a normal or raised position by means of springs19 which, encircling the respective side bars 5 of the frame, bear attheir lower ends against stops 20 on the bars and at their upper endsagainst the opposing slidable projections 11 of the upper jaw plates 9.The upper rock-shaft 13 is spaced below and parallel to the rock-shaft8, previously referred to, which latter shaft has its bearings 21 insuitable fixtures 22 on the respective side bars 5 of the frame, and isprovided with a suitable thumb-piece 23. The shaft 8 is equipped at itsrespective ends with suitable cam plates 24 whereof the acting edges aremovable, by proper operation of the shaft 8, into contact with opposinglips or flanges 25 formed at the outer ends of forwardly projecting lugs26 on the respective upper jaw plates 9, thus forcing said plates, and.their appurtenances slightly downward against the pressure of thesprings 19.

Each of the cams 24 is provideo with a spaced-apart toe 27 and notch 28which coact with the opposing lip or flange 25 of the associated clampat the respective limits of movement of the cam, thus temporarilylocking the clamp in each of its extreme positions longitudinally of theframe.

The operation of the hereinbefore described film hanger is as follows:

Assuming the movable jaws 1 1 of the re spective pairs of clamps beopen, and the up per pair be held downward against the action of thesprings 19 by the cams 2 1, the lower edge of the film to be developedand dried is placed on the projecting jaws 10 of the lower clamps B andin contact with the opposing inner ends of the flanges 12, which flangesthus contribute to the accurate placement of the film edge. The lowerpair of jaws 141- are then swung down upon the film by manipulation ofthe thumb-piece 15 of the adjacent rock-shaft 13, thereby securelyclamping the lower edge of the film. This done, the upper edge of thefilm is placed on the jaws 10 of the upper clamps A and in contact withthe opposing inner ends of the flanges 12, whereupon the upper pair ofswinging jaws 14 are moved down upon the film by manipulation of thethumb-piece 15 of the adjacent rock-shaft 13. Finally, the cams 24 arethrown upward against the pressure of the springs 19, by actuation ofthe thumb-- piece 23 of the rock-shaft 8. Coincidentally, the upper pairof clamps and their shaft 13 are forced upward by the action of thesprings 19, thereby yieldably pulling the upper end of the film andexerting longitudinal tension thereon in opposition to the holdingaction of the lower pair of clamps at the lower end of the film. Hencethe film is effectually held at its four corners and maintained underuniform resilient tension.

To release the film, the frame is held in horizontal position, the cams24 are manipulated to move the upper pair of clamps in opposition to theaction of the springs 19, and the two thumb-pieces 15 are properlymanipulated to throw the respective pairs of jaws 1 upward, thussimultaneously releasing the four corners of the film. This done, theframe is inverted, thus permitting the film to drop bodily from theframe.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to theparticular illustrative construction herein disclosed, as the same maybe modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

I claim- 1. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality ofspaced-apart clamp elements, each including a base having a clampingportion in fixed relation thereto, and a relatively movable clampingmember having a complementary clamping portion adapted to bear directlyon the edge of a film imposed on the basal clamping portion, and asingle actuating means fixedly connecting to the plural movable clampingmembers and operative to move them simultaneously into or out 100 ofclamping relation to the respective basal clamping portions.

2. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge 1 of a film to betreated, said clamps each including a basal aw member mounted on theframe and a relatively movable jaw member co-acting with said basalmember and adapted to bear directly on the film, and a transverse 1operating member mounted on the basal members of the respective clampsand fixed to and carrying the movable aw members,

3. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged 115 and adapted to receive and clamp an edge of a film to betreated, said clamps each including a basal jaw member mounted on theframe, and a relatively movable jaw member co-acting with said basalmember and 120 adapted to bear directly upon the film, said jaw memberhaving a removable adjustable point thereon arranged and adapted toengage the film, and a transverse operating member mounted in the basalmembers of 125 the respective clampsand fixed to and carrying themovable jaw members.

4. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampelements, each including a base having a clamping por; 130

tion in fixed relation thereto, and a relatively movable member having acomplementary clamping portion adapted to bear directly on the edge of afilm imposed on the basal clamping portion, means connecting the pluralmovable members and operative to move them simultaneously into or out ofclamping relation to the respective basal clamping members, a rock-shaftmounted on the sides of the frame in spaced relation to the clamps,resilient means normally urging the said clamps toward the rock-shaft,and means actuable by the rock-shaft to move the clamps away from orpermit their resilient retraction toward said rock-shaft.

5. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge of a film to betreated, said clamps each including a basal member slidably mounted onthe frame and a relatively-movable jaw member co-acting with said basalmember, a trans verse operating member mounted on the basal members ofthe respective clamps and fixed to and carrying the movable jaw members,a rock-shaft mounted on the frame in spaced relation to the clamps,resilient means normally urging the said clamps toward the rock-shaft,and means actuable by the rockshaft to move the clamps away from orpermit their resilient retraction toward said rock-shaft.

6. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge of a film to betreated, said clamps each including a basal member slidably mounted onthe frame and a relatively-movable jaw member co-acting with said basalmember, a transverse operating member for the movable jaw members, arock-shaft mounted on the frame in spaced relation to the clamps,resilient means normally urging the said clamps toward the rock-shaft,and cams mounted on said rock-shaft in co-operative relation to thebasal members of the respective clamps, whereby said cams, by properactuation of the rock-shaft, move the clamps away from or permit theirresilient retraction toward the said rock-shaft.

7. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge of a film to betreated, said clamps each including a basal member slidably mounted onthe frame and a relatively-movable jaw member co-acting with said basalmember, a transverse operating member for the movable jaw members, arock-shaft mounted on the frame in spaced relation to the clamps,resilient means normally urging the said clamps toward the rock-shaft,and cams mounted on said rock-shaft in co-operative relation to thebasal members of the respective clamps, whereby said cams, by properactuation of the rock-shaft, move the clamps away from or permit theirresilient retraction toward the said rock-shaft, said cams and basalmembers having co-acting portions to limit the movements of the clamps.

8. A film hanger comprising a frame, including side bars, a plurality ofspaced-apart clamps arranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge ofa film to be treated, said clamps each including a basal member slidablymounted on the adjacent side bar of the frame and a relatively-movablejaw member co-acting with said basal member, a transverse operatingmember for the movable jaw members, a rock-shaft mounted on the frame inspaced relation to the clamps, springs on the side bars normally urgingthe said clamps toward the rock-shaft, and means actuable by the lattershaft to move the clamps a limited distance from or permit theirresilient retraction toward said rock-shaft.

9. A film hanger comprising a frame, spaced pairs of clamps thereinarranged and adapted to receive and clamp the respective corners of afilm, one pair of clamps being fixed in relation to the frame and theother pair being bodily movable, within limits, longitudinally of theframe, an operating member for each pair of clamps whereby either paircan be simultaneously operated either to grip or to release the film,resilient means whereby the movable pair of clamps are normallypositioned to exert longitudinal tension on the film gripped thereby, arock-shaft mounted on said frame in spaced relation to the operatingshaft for the movable pair of clamps, and means actuable by saidrock-shaft to move the latter clamps away from or permit their resilientretraction toward the latter shaft.

10. A film hanger comprising a frame, spaced pairs of clamps thereinarranged and adapted to receive and clamp the respective corners of afilm, one pair of clamps being in fixed relation to the frame and theother mounted in the lateral flanges of the basal plate and carrying therespective movable jaws, resilient means whereby the movable pair ofclamps are normally positioned to tension the film gripped thereby, arock-shaft mounted on said frame in spaced relation to the operatingshaft for the movable pair of clamps, and cams on said rock-shaftco-opcrating with the cam-engaging portions of the basal clamp plates tomove the latter away from or permit their resilient retraction towardthe rockshaft.

11. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge or a film to betreated, each of said clamps having complementary clamping members,whereof one member comprises a basal plate mounted on the frame andhaving a laterally resilient flange, and whereof the other membercomprises a swinging arm pivotally mounted on said flange andfrictionally movable thereagainst into and out of clamping relation tothe basal plate, and a rock-shaft connecting the swinging clamping arms.

12. A film hanger comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced-apart clampsarranged and adapted to receive and clamp an edge of a film to treated,each of said clamps ha ing complementary clamping members, whereof onemember comprises a basal plate mounted on the frame and having alaterally resilient flange provided with a locking projection, andwhereof the other member comprises a swinging arm pivotally mo nted onsaid flanges and movable against the said projection into and out ofclamping relation to the basal plate, and a rock-shaft connecting theswinging clamping arms.

13. In a film hanger, a film clamp comprising a basal plate having a jawportion at one end and a lateral flange spaced from and affording a stopfor the edge of a film seated on said jaw portion, and a clamping j awpivotaliy supported in said flange in cooperative relation to the saidportion.

14. In a film hanger frame, a film clamp including a basal plate movally mounted on the frame and movable within limits longitudinally of theframe and having at one end a jaw extending longitudinally of the frameand having at its opposite end a forwardly projecting cam-engagingportion and a movable cam for engaging said portion.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New Yorl this 11th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1930.

HERMAN GOLLOMB.

